Driven plate



Oct# 18, 1932. A. w. ANDERSON DRIVEN PLATE Filed 001'.. 8, 1950 PatentedOct. 18., 1932 v11151111511) STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR W. ANDERSON,fOIE* CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORG & BECK COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS i DRIVEN PLATE Applicationled October 8, 1930. Serial No. 487,127.

This invention relates to friction clutches andl more especially to theclutch or driven plate which is interposed between two parts of adriving member and is adapted to be gripped or clamped by said partsunder sufiicient pressure to impart motion from the driving member to adriven shaft on which the clutch plate is mounted. The invention isparticularly useful in friction clutches' for automobiles in which it isdesired that the clutch should take hold progressively to fullengagement and thereby avoid grabbing ,and jerking.

The object of the invention is to increase the yielding action of theclutch plate at the beginning of the compression movement, and

-thereby enable'the clutch to take hold more gradually than has beencustomary heretofore and without losing the smoothness of actionine-ident to progressive application of torque. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch plate adaptedfor progressive en agement .and disengagement with means w ereby itsprogressive movement will be accelerated particularly atl the beginningof its engaging movement and at the ending of Aits disengaging movement.

And a further object is to avoid the effect of localized high pressureareas in the clutch i by providing the. yielding effect of the drivenplate over the entire surface of the friction facings..

The invention is primarily vadapted for a clutch plate havingperipherally disposed yielding sectors interposed between continuousfriction rings, one type of which is illusvtrated in Letters Patent No.1,659,289, grant- .ed to D. E. Gamble, assignor, on February for an evendistribution of 14, 1928, and I have. selected this type of ,4 isdivided into a plurality of sectors 5 by radial slots 6 whichextendthrough the periphery of theY plate and connect at their inner'ends withtransverse slots 7 at or about the middle thereof to form T-shaped slotsseparating the sectors. Alternate sectors are bent bodily and laterallyof the plate to offset positions on opposite sides of the plate andfthemarginal edge portions 8 of each sector extending along the slots 6 arebent to lie normally in or about the plane of the intermediate portionof adjacent sectors. Continuous friction rings 9 are arranged onopposite sides of the plate and are fastened by rivets 10, or othersuitable fastening means, to the alternate sectors with which theyengage. Thus one ring is fastened to alternate sectors on one side ofthe plate and the other ring is fastened to the other sectors on theother side of the plate.

The offset sectors support the rings so that they will make full contactwith the driving parts throughout the engaging and disengaging movementsof the clutch, and they also make these movements progressive to fullengagement and to disengagement. The object of my invention is toimprove the action'of the clutch by accelerating the initial partl ofthe engaging movement and the finishing part of the disff engagingmovement and 'at the same time provide the smoothness lof action whichis desirable in clutches for automobiles. With this 'end in View Iprovide each'of the sectors 'with a tongue 11 to'receive the rivet 10vby `which thev ring is fastened.thereto. This tongue is convenientlyAformed by cutting a slot l2 in the sector,`fwhich may be' generallydescribed as Uv-shaped .or horseshoe shaped, the tongue being locatedbetween the two legs of the slot and jdirected''outward radially oftheplate. A slot 13 ex'tendsfroni-each slot 12 throughthe periphery of theplate;v The effect ofthe slots 12 and 13 is to accelerate the yieldinglmoveinent of thez sectors at .the

beginning of the' compression action Y* of the fpTarts of the drivingmember and at the end,-v`

ing of the release action of saidfp'arts.` These slots provide a. relieffor the stresses and 'strains ofthe kmetalofthe` sectors in the en'-gaging and disengaging movements of the 'Afa'. l

clutch. The tongues also contributeto the yielding and cushioningeffect.v The greatest degree of yielding or cushioning effect isobtained with the U-shaped slot located at or adjacent the periphery ofthe plate and, is lessened by moving the slot inward radially of theplate. Also, the greatest degreeof yielding or cushioning effect isobtained when ing action of the sectors at the beginning ofv theengaging movement and at the ending of,`

the disengaging movement, makes the action of the clutch smoother, andprovides an improved cushioning effect which is so highly desirable,especially for clutches used in automobiles. The yielding effect of thedriven plate is distributed over the contact area with i dthe frictionfacings in a manner to compensate forany irregularities or inequalitiesin the contact surfaces of the clutch so that there Will be a gradualincrease in torque transmission and an avoidance of grabbing and jerkingas the result of localized high pressure areas.

l I have shownthe invention in one type of clutch plate for the purposesof this application but I reserve the right to employ it in other.clutch plates and to make such changes as may be required to adapt ittherefor or for other`purposes within the scope of the following claims:

I claim 1. A clutch plate having a plurality of slots therein extendingthrough the. periphery of the plate to define lradially disposed tonguesspaced apart annularly and from the'periph- `ery of the' plate,'sa'idtongues being laterally bent alternatelyjon opposite sides of the plate,fand continuous friction rings on tongues: ,v 3 2. A clutch plate havinga plurality of peripheral spaced sectors laterally bent alterincluded insaid sectors, andcontinuous friction rings on opposite sides of ytheplate and opposite sides of the plate and connected to alternate natelyon opposite sides of the plate, U-shaped slots cut in said sectors andforming outwardly directed tongues, and continuous friction rings onopposite sides of the plate and connected to the tongues of alternatesectors.

5. A clutch plate having a plurality of peripheral spaced sectorslaterally bent alternately yon opposite sides of the plate, slots cut insaid sectors to form outwardly directed tongues-spaced from theperiphery of the pla-te, said slots. being extended through theperiphery of the plate, and continuous friction rings on .opposite sidesof the plate and connected to the tongues of alternate sectors.

6.- A clutch plate having a plurality of periph'eral spaced sectorslaterally bent alternately on opposite sides of the plate, inwardlydirected U-shaped slots in the sectors forming outwardly directedtongues, and continuous friction rings on opposite sides of the plateand connected to the tongues of alternate sectors. 7. A clutch platehaving a plurality of peripheral spaced sectors laterally bentalternately on opposite sides of the plate, inwardly directed U-shapedslots in the sectors forming'outwardly directed tongues, slots extendingfrom said U-shaped slots through the periphery ofthe plate, andcontinuous friction rings on opposite sides of the plate and connectedto the tongues of alternate sectors.

8. A clutch plate having a plurality of U- shaped slots therein formingspaced radially disposed tongues,'said tongues being bent laterally andalternately on opposite sides of the plate, and continuous frictionrings on opposite sides ofthe plate and connected to alternate tongues.

9. A clutch plate having a-'pluralityiof U- shaped slots therein formingspaced radially disposed tongues within thev periphery of the plate,s'lots extending through the periphery of the plate and connected withthe U- shaped slots, said tonguesbeing bent laterally and alternately onopposite sides of the plate, and co'ntinuous friction rings on oppositesides of the plate and connected to alternate'tongues.

` ARTHUR W. ANDERSON.-

' 3; A clutch platehaving a plurality of peripheral spaced sectorslaterally bent alternately `on opposite sides of the plate, slotsv eutsaid sectorsfforminr radially directed" K p tongues, and continuousfrietioniings on 01pposite` sides ofthe plate and'connect'ed to, tonguesof alternate sectors. y .4; vA clutch-plate having a pluralityof pe- 5ripheral spaced sectors lv laterally fb'ent Ialter-

